Gas compressor



'Sept. 28; 1926.

J. F. GILLESPIE ET AL GAS COMPRES SOR Filed July 6, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. F. GILLESPIE ET AL GAS COMPRESSOR Sept. "'28 was. 1,601,248

Filed July 6, 1922 3Sheets-Sheet 2 a m M Sept. 28 Q 1926;

J. F. GILLESPIE ET AL GAS COMPRES S OR File y 6. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet :5

Patented Sept. 28, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. GILLESPIE AND ARTHUR F. STEPHENS, OF MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA.

GAS COMPRESSOR.

Application filed July 6, 1922. Serial No. 573,231.

This'invention relates togas compressors and has special reference to a compressor of this type for use in compressing gases to be utilized in driving an engine of the slide valve or any other preferred type.

One important object of the invention 15 to improve the general construction of devices of this character.

A second important object of the invention is to provide an improved device of th1s character wherein the compression of gases resulting from the explosion of an explosive mixture is accomplished in an improved manner.

A third important object of the invention is to provide means whereby compressed and stored gases will be used to effect the compression of an explosive mixture which, when exploded, will produce additionalgases under pressure for storage, the whole being of novel and improved arrangement,

The fourth important object of the invention is to provide a novel form of cylinder arrangement for ell'ecting the compression and explosion of an explosive mixture in devices of this character.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinationsot' parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and

; Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the "general arrangement of the device and its connection to an engine.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal median section through the compressor end of the device.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal median section through the driving end of the device.

Fig. 4 is a detail view partly in section, the section disclosing the construction of the exhaust ports from the explosion chambers.

Fig. 5 is a detail view from one end of the device partly in section through the compressor.

Fig. 6 is a detailview showing the arrangement of the valve stem and-the contact maker.

In the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated there is provided a base and on one end of this base is mounted a compressor cylinder 10 having at each end a head 11. Each of these heads is provided on one side with an inlet port 12 and on the side opposite with an outlet port 13. The inlet ports are controlled bv inwardly opening valves 14 normally held closed by springs 15. Moreover, these ports are connected to an intake manifold 16 whereto is connected the usual carburetor 17 supplied with gasoline or the like through a tube 18. The outlet ports each open into a casting forming a chamber 19 and are controlled by outwardly open poppet valves 20 normally held closed by springs 21. Each of these chambers 19, which constitute the explosion chambers of the device, opens into a valve casing 22 and the communication between the respective chambers 19 and valve casing 22 is controlled by an outwardly opening poppet valve 23 normallyhcld closed by a spring 24. The valve casing 22 opens into a main storage tank 25. Passages 26 extend laterally from the chambers 19 and open into exhaust ports 27 controlled by inwardly opening valves 28 which are normally held closed by springs 29. These exhaust ports are connected to the usual exhaust manifold.

At the opposite end of the tank .25 there is secured to the bed, or base 13 a cylinder 31 of the ordinary slide valve type and provided with a valve chest 32 from whence ports 33 open into the cylinder. an exhaust port 34 leading from the valve chest as clearly shown in Figure In the cylinder 10 is a piston 35 which is connected by a piston rod 36 with a piston 37 in the cylinder 31, the rod passing ordinary stuffing boxes 38 and being connected in any suitable manner, if desired, to a fly wheel (not shown) to render the movement more smooth. Governing the ports 33 and 34 is a D valve 40 provided with a stem 41 from which projects a pin 42. On the rod 36 is a pin or roller 43 and at 44 is a lever having slotted ends engaging these pins or rollers, the lever being pivoted intermediate its ends as at 45 to the base. Thus, when the pistons and the rod move in one direction the valve 40 will move in the other. On the valve stem 41 are slidably mounted cam members 46 which are secured in adjusted positions by the set screws 47. These cam members 46 are positioned to engage rollers 48 on the ends of the stems 49 of the valves 28.

At 50 is a battery and from this batter leads a circuit wire 51 connected to the spar coils 53 each of which is connected by a wire 54 with a spark plug 55 screwed into the wall of the chamber 19, The battery 50 is grounded to the compressor by wire 56 and leading from each of the coils 53 is a wlre 57 connected with a contact 58, these contacts being engageable alternately by a grounded contact 59 carried by the valve stem 41. Leading from the storage tank 25 is a pipe 60 which supplies compressed gases to an engine 61 of any type which may be operated by such gases. Also, an inlet pipe 62 connects with the tank 25 to enable initial pressure to be set up therein.

In the operation of the device the starting is efiected by setting up initial pressure in the tank 25 through the pipe 62 by any convenient means, as for instance, a hand pump. When proper pressure has been reached in the tank 25 the piston 37 will be actuated. This will in turn actuate the piston 35 so that a charge of explosive mixture is drawn into the cylinder 10 and, upon return of the piston, this charge is compressed and forced into the chamber 19 at that end. When the charge is fully compressed in said chamber contact will be established between the proper contact 58 and the contact 59 and a spark will pass across the terminals of the spark plug thus exploding said charge. The explosion or the charge will efiect closing of the valve 20 and openin of the valve 23, thus permitting the explo ed mixture, now 1n the form of gas, to pass into the storage tank 25. From this tank a pipe 63 leads to the chest 32 and thus the gases under pressure in the tank will operate the piston 37, the valve 64 in such pipe being opened. This will efiect the compression of a drawn in char e in the opposite end of the cylinder 10 an an exp osion in the chamber at that end. In order to dispose of the waste gases upon the return of the piston 35 to the first end, the valve 28 at that end is timed to be opened by the cam 46 and thus the exploded gases remaining in the chamber 19 are swept out through the port 27. It is here to be noted that at no time is there any exploded gases in the cylinder 10. The operation thus set I up will continue until the valve 64 is closed which effects stopping of the piston 37.

There has thus been provided a simple and efiicient device of the kind described and for the purposes specified.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the inventi on without departing from the materialprinciples thereof. It is not therefore desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is wished to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. In a device of the kind described an engine including a cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports at each end; explosion chamhere at the respective ends of the cylinder into which the exhaust ports open; a storage tank having valve controlled communication withsaid chambers, a compressed air engine connected to said first engine and actuated by gases from said storage tank, a valve controlling the passage of gas to the second engine, an exhaust manifold connected to said chambers and opening into the air, valves controlling the passage of gases from the chambers to the manifold, and means controlled by the engine for mechanically operating said valves, said means including a single valve stem operably connecting the last mentioned valves and the valve of the air engines.

2. In combination, a pair of alined cylinders, a piston in each cylinder, a piston rod connecting said pistons, one of said cylinders having an exhaust port and an inlet port at each end, a chamber at each end of said cylinder into which the exhaust orts open, check valves controlling the ex iaust ports and opening toward said chambers, said chambers having valve controlled exhaust ports opening into the air, a storage tank having port communication with the chambers, check valves controlling said port communication and opening toward said tank, the remaining cylinder having a combined supply and exhaust port at each end thereof, a valve chest into which the last mentioned ports open and having communication with said tank, valve means controlling the last mentioned ports, a valve stem actuated by the movement of the piston rod for effecting operation of the last mentioned valve means, and exhaust valves opening from said chambers and operatively connected to the last mentioned valve means to operate in unison therewith.

3. In combination, a pair of alined cylinders, a piston in each cylinder, a piston rod connecting said pistons, one of said cylinders having an exhaust port and an inlet port at each end, a chamber at each end of said cylinder into which theexhaust ports open, check valves controlling the exhaust ports and opening toward said chambers. a stora e tank having port communication with the c ambers, said chambers having valve controlled exhaust ports opening into the air, check valves controlling said port communication and opening toward said tank, the remaining cylinder having a combined supply and exhaust port at each end thereof,

ports open and having communication with said tank, valve means controlling the last mentioned ports, a valve stem actuated by the movement of the piston rod for eifecting operation of the last mentioned valve means, exhaust valves opening from said chambers and o eratively connected to the last mentione valve means to operate in unison therewith, s ark plugs for said chambers, 10 and electrica means connected to said spark plu s including circuit closing devices operate by the operating means for the last mentioned valve means.

In testimony whereof we aifix our signal6 tures. r

- JOHN FJGILLESPIE.

- ARTHUR F. STEPHENS, 

